My love for Nashville extends beyond its city limits to the surrounding parts of Middle Tennessee. This mid-state region seems to be undisputedly equated with natural beauty. State Park signs appear to be almost as plenteous as the blue, metal food and gas signs at each exit for any interstate leaving Nashville. There is hiking, camping and sightseeing abundantly available for the outdoor lover. Although I have vivid memories as a child on family hikes where I was always bringing up the rear and slowing down my somewhat impatient, faster-paced siblings, I nonetheless learned to love being on trails in nature. I keep a faster pace now, but still intentionally slow myself down enough to take in the grandeur around me.
I was never picky about where I hiked as long as I was outside. But then I visited Burgess Falls last year (in Sparta) and fell in love with waterfalls! Reaching the falls felt equivalent to earning a prize at the end of a strenuous climb (or descent). In the secluded serenity of the cascading water, I almost could have imagined myself being in Hawaii (admittedly maybe only because I’ve never actually been there!), but was still amazed I was only a little over an hour from my front door. Later in the year I went to the falls at Rock Island State Park, and suddenly found myself setting a goal to see all the falls within (reasonable :)) driving distance of home.
So now I have checked Foster, Cummins, Greeter, Ozone, Rutledge, Cane Creek and Fall Creek Falls off the list. Still need to make it to Virgin Falls (and likely another one or two I may not know about yet!). A scenic drive, a picnic lunch, meeting a friend, and you have the makings of a perfect day. (Be prepared with a swimsuit too during warmer months—most have great swimming holes!)
I have occasionally hiked solo, and realized on my last venture out that I love the camaraderie that exists on the rocky trails going to or from the destination. I’ve always felt on my daily walks, (be it in a neighborhood, on a greenway, etc), that if you pass someone who is obviously in the same moment in history, at the same physical location, and participating in the same activity, that there should be a mutual acknowledgement of, and salutation to, the other individual. But that doesn’t seem to be a commonly held belief in the general world of routine exercisers. Yet on a cumbersome incline, with little breath to spare, the overwhelming majority of hikers seem happy to offer a smile, hello, or a word of encouragement to those who are losing stamina, or who need to ask, “are we almost there?” or, “which way is best?”
I always leave a hike marveling at the beauty that God created seemingly just for our sheer enjoyment. But I honestly also leave feeling more benevolence for the human race overall! Crazy as it sounds, when you can greet and encourage, or are greeted and encouraged by, that many strangers in a day, you can’t help but feel like a person who just generally loves people. Maybe it’s the endorphins that naturally flow from exercising, or maybe it’s that the simplest offering of a smile and a kind word, offered and received repeatedly over the varying distances of a loop trail, can leave your weary body with a full heart. 🙂
ILoveAllYallNashville.com 
You’ve inspired me to go hiking & check out the falls. Isn’t that what writing is for…to inspire others to do something…whether it’s merely thinking grand or small small ideas or jumping into action? Thanks for sharing.
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